With the end of the summer season, now is the time to reduce the settings on your irrigation system.
While October can sometimes be quite warm in Southern California, because the days are shorter than the summer months, you do not need to water as much or as often. In fact, you may be able to cut your watering by as much as half the amount you water during the summer.
During this time of year, plants are also beginning to cycle into dormancy and require less water than the summer and spring which is the height of the growing season. Dormancy is triggered by shorter days and less direct sunlight as opposed to warm weather, so even though October days may be warm, the extra water really does the plants no good
At this time of year, the water put into the soil remains in the ground longer because the plants require less water as they prepare to go dormant. In addition, less water evaporates as the days become shorter with less intense sunlight.
Remember to also turn off your irrigation system in advance of local rainstorms. Irrigation systems can remain off for a week or more following major storms as the soil retains the moisture longer than the summer months.